With JEWEL OF THE EAST, the 5th book in Victoria Vane's sexy
and intriguing Georgian era The Devil DeVere series;
the
focus is not on Ludovic DeVere and his notorious romps.
This time we are treated to an in-depth look at one of his
closest friends, Simon Singleton, affectionately known to
his comrades as Sin. Simon is a randy youth, a rake well
known for his bawdy poetry. His escapades with Ludovic and
Ned are legendary; much to the horror of his family.
Simon's father decides that it is time for Simon to become a
man and leave his frivolous youth behind. He forces Simon
into the military; where he is sent to America to fight on
the British side of the Revolutionary War. During the
battle of Saratoga, Simon disappears and is presumed dead.
Seven years pass, and then Simon miraculously returns to
England; but as a much changed man. He is broken both
physically and mentally by the horrors he has suffered in
the war and his long captivity.
Salime is the premier courtesan of all London in 1784, the
JEWEL OF THE EAST of the title. Veiled, mysterious, and
desirable; she commands the attention of all the males in
her sphere of influence; and is quite select in her
clientele. When her client base begins to dry up, however,
Salime discovers to her dismay that the new owner of the
brothel is veiling herself and pretending to be Salime while
siphoning off her customers. After an argument ensues,
Salime is summarily dismissed from the brothel. Having
nowhere else to turn, she reaches out to old patron Ludovic
DeVere; the man responsible for saving her from the streets
years before.
DeVere has recently married his beloved Diana, however, and
must tread carefully as to how he helps Salime. With
Simon's return and poor state of mind; the answer to
DeVere's dilemma as to what to do with Salime becomes
apparent. He sends her to be a companion to his old friend
Simon, and help bring him back from the depths of the
torment he has been languishing in. Salime has her own
issues to deal with. She suffers from low self-esteem, and
is overly conscious of the scars on her face which she keeps
veiled. Salime feels that she can do nothing to help Simon,
and Simon makes it plain that he doesn't want her with him.
Salilme perseveres, and a friendship begins to form between
them; soon blossoming into something more.
JEWEL OF THE EAST is a lovely story of two damaged people
who come together and heal each other's suffering. Victoria
Vane's lovely prose and well-defined characterizations make
for an emotional and satisfying love story. Vane excels at
stripping away the layers of both Salime and Simon's
tormented past; and delighting the reader with the unfolding
tale of two broken souls redeeming each other with
friendship and love. JEWEL OF THE EAST can easily be read
as a
standalone, but will make the reader want to reach back and
start this excellent series from the beginning.
In the fifth installment of the award-winning Devil
DeVere series, DeVere plays the unlikely cupid
once more in bringing together Simon (The Trouble with
Sin) and Salime (The Devil's Match),
two injured souls who find ultimate healing in each other's
arms.
Maimed by misfortune... healed by love...
His wounds run deep...Having once lived his life
only for larks, laughter, and ladies of easy virtue, Captain
Simon Singleton has returned from war a shambles of a man.
Although free from six years of captivity, he's still
fettered by fears that confine him to a life of seclusion.
Her scars are well-hidden... Once the crowning
jewel of the most lavish brothel in London, the exotic
Salime finds her reputation and livelihood destroyed by a
bitter rival. With a closely guarded secret stripped away,
she fears no man will ever desire her again. Seeking aid
from one who once saved her life, Salime accepts a
proposition to become a companion to his war-scarred friend.
But love is the eternal cure... When circumstance
brings these two damaged souls together, fate ignites a love
story worthy of the Arabian Nights. (Mature content
warning)
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